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Westborough committee presses for wider East Main shared-use path, flags narrow bridge and crossing dangers
Summary
Committee members urged the Select Board and DPW to prioritize wider sections (ideally 10 feet or more) on the East Main shared-use path, recommended railings and one-way control for a narrow underpass, and asked that crossings at Beewalt and McDonald’s be revised for visibility and safety. Comments to DPW are due Aug. 3.
Westborough — Members of the Active Transportation and Safety Committee pressed for stronger safety standards and clearer design changes on the East Main Street TIP shared-use path, flagging a narrow underpass, awkward crossings and an alignment that could take part of a private yard.
Don, a committee member who reviewed national guidance, said current plans show several short segments under recommended widths and urged the committee to request 10-foot widths where feasible. "The latest standards ... have a lot of warnings about anything less than 10 feet and the recommended nowadays is actually 11 feet," he said. He warned the state is still refining definitions for "sidewalks" versus "sidepaths," which could affect e‑bike use on narrower segments.
Committee members noted an under-bridge segment that may be as narrow as about 5 feet and recommended protective measures. Don recommended a railing or barrier at the narrow bridge segment and suggested a one-way control signal or push-button that would let approaching users indicate they are entering the narrow stretch to avoid conflicts. The group also discussed practical tradeoffs: one member cautioned that a continuous fence could complicate snow removal, while others said a barrier is worth exploring to keep cyclists from entering the roadway.
The committee raised two crossing locations as priorities: the McDonald's driveway crossing and the Beewalt/East Main intersection. Don recommended a bike queue zone and a bump-out at the Beewalt crossing to improve visibility and slow vehicles; he said the path needs a straight approach of roughly 10 feet where cyclists can orient perpendicular to the roadway before crossing. "You need at least 5 feet of radius curve for a bicycle," he added when discussing turning geometry and visibility.
Members also flagged an alignment issue at 127 East Main where the current plan appears to place the path roughly 10 feet east of an intended alignment and could encroach on a small house lot. Don recommended moving the path to the property's western edge so the project minimizes land takings.
The committee acknowledged that MassDOT — not the town alone — is the approving authority for TIP projects and that some design decisions will require coordination with state engineers. That said, members agreed the committee should submit clear, actionable comments to DPW that highlight: (1) sections where 10-foot widths should be pursued where easements and trees allow; (2) protective railings/guardrails or one-way control at the underpass; (3) a bump-out and bike queue design at Beewalt; and (4) moving the East Main crossing to reduce private-property impacts.
What happens next: Christy said the committee should send comments to DPW; members noted the DPW deadline for comments is Aug. 3. The Select Board will meet July 21 and the Planning Board schedule will influence when the final Kimley Horn report is reviewed. The committee plans to produce a draft comment letter and circulate it to members before the weekend so DPW can receive the committee’s input by the stated deadline.
